THE ALPHA TRIAL
The words Alpha Trial seemed to echo through the forest.
Aria looked from one face to another.
Every Alpha present had gone tense.
Rowan was the first to react.
"That's not happening," he said sharply.
Darius only smiled.
"Why not?"
Rowan took a step forward.
"Because Alpha Trials are not used like this."
"They're used whenever powerful leadership is contested," Darius replied calmly.
The second Alpha nodded.
"And right now it is."
Aria frowned.
"Can someone please explain what you're all talking about?"
Kael looked at her briefly, his expression dark.
"It's a challenge between Alphas."
Rowan added quickly, "A dangerous one."
Darius folded his arms.
"The strongest Alpha wins."
Aria blinked.
"And what exactly are they winning?"
Darius' eyes moved slowly to her.
"You."
Aria's jaw dropped.
"Oh absolutely not."
The Alpha King stepped forward.
"This discussion is over."
But Darius didn't move.
"Is it?"
His voice remained calm, but the challenge inside it was clear.
"You can't simply take the Shadow Bloodline and expect the rest of the Alphas to accept it."
"I don't need their acceptance," the Alpha King replied.
The third Alpha laughed quietly.
"Spoken like a true king."
Rowan rubbed his face in frustration.
"This is exactly what we were trying to avoid."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Good. Because I'm not standing here while a bunch of overgrown wolves fight over me like a trophy."
Darius actually looked impressed.
"You're bold."
"I'm annoyed."
Kael stepped closer, his voice tight.
"Aria, this is serious."
"I noticed."
The Alpha King's voice cut through again.
"There will be no trial."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"And why not?"
"Because she's already claimed."
The three Alphas exchanged glances.
Then the second Alpha spoke.
"Not fully."
Aria looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
Rowan sighed.
"The bond isn't complete yet."
Aria's stomach dropped.
"What?"
The Alpha King's jaw tightened slightly.
Darius explained calmly.
"A mate bond becomes permanent after the full ritual."
Aria blinked.
"...Ritual?"
Rowan cleared his throat.
"Marking. Blood oath. Moon ceremony."
Aria's face slowly turned red.
"Oh."
The Alpha King remained silent.
Darius gave a small smile.
"So technically..."
His gaze moved between the Alphas.
"She can still be challenged for."
Kael's wolf growled loudly this time.
The second Alpha stepped forward.
"I accept the trial."
Rowan groaned.
"You're making this worse."
The third Alpha shrugged.
"I'm curious."
Kael's voice turned sharp.
"I'll fight too."
Aria threw her hands up.
"Why is no one listening to me?!"
Five powerful Alphas stood in the clearing now.
And the tension between them was rising quickly.
Rowan stepped beside the Alpha King.
"This will turn into a war."
Darius nodded slightly.
"Unless the King refuses."
The Alpha King's golden eyes burned.
He understood the trap.
If he refused, the other Alphas would challenge his authority.
If he accepted...
They would fight.
Aria looked up at him.
"You're not actually considering this... right?"
For a long moment he said nothing.
The wind moved softly through the trees.
The distant fortress lights flickered on the mountainside.
Then the Alpha King spoke quietly.
"If I refuse..."
He looked at the other Alphas.
"They will keep coming."
Aria felt her chest tighten.
"And if you accept?"
His golden eyes met hers.
"They'll fight me here."
Her heart dropped.
"Five Alphas?"
Rowan corrected softly.
"Four."
Everyone looked at him.
Rowan smirked slightly.
"I'm on the King's side."
Aria stared at the group of them.
Five Alphas.
About to fight because of her.
Her wolf whispered quietly.
This is bad.
Aria agreed.
Very bad.
Darius slowly stepped back and cracked his neck.
"Then it's settled."
The other Alphas began removing their coats and weapons.
Preparing.
Kael's eyes locked on the Alpha King.
"This time..."
His voice was low.
"I won't lose."
Aria's heart started pounding.
She turned to the Alpha King.
"Please tell me you're not going to fight them."
The Alpha King's wolf suddenly surfaced in his eyes.
Bright.
Dangerous.
Then he said calmly-
"They challenged a king."
And in the next moment-
All four Alphas shifted into massive wolves at once.